Tempest and Sunshine

When Mr. Middleton was spoken to on the subject of sending Julia to

Frankfort, he at first refused outright. "No," said he, "indeed she shan't

go! What does she want of any more flummerdiddle notions? What she does

know is a damage to her."

"But do you not wish to give your daughters every possible advantage?"

said Mr. Wilmot.

"Who's said anything about my daughters?" said Mr. Middleton. "It's nobody

but Tempest, and she's always kickin' up some boobery. Now if 'twas

Sunshine, why, I might--but no, neither of 'em shall go. It's all stuff,

the whole on't."

So saying, he turned on his heel and walked off, while Julia burst into

tears and repaired to her own room, whither she was soon followed by her

mother, who tried to console her. Said she, "Why, Julia, you don't take

the right course with your father. Why do you not propose having your

sister accompany you? For, if you go, she will, and you know she can

always coax father to do as she pleases."

This was rather humiliating to Julia, but she concluded it was her only

alternative, so she dried her eyes, and seeking out her sister, very soon

talked her into a strong desire to try the mysteries of a school in

Frankfort, and also drew from her a promise to try her powers of argument

upon her father. Accordingly, that evening Fanny made an attack upon him,

and as her mother had predicted, she was perfectly successful. It was

settled that she and Julia should both go, and the next morning early Mr.

Middleton set off for Frankfort to find "as smart a boarding place for his

gals as anybody had." There was as yet no boarding house connected with

the school, and he was obliged to find a place for them in some one of the

numerous boarding houses with which Frankfort abounds. He at last decided

upon a very genteel establishment, kept by a Mrs. Crane, who at first

hesitated about receiving into her family persons who possessed so rough

and shabby-looking a father.

But Mr. Middleton brought her to a decision by saying, "what the deuce you

waiting for? Is it because I've got on cowhide stogies and a home-made

coat? Thunder and lightning! Don't you know I'm old Middleton, worth at

least two hundred thousand?"

This announcement changed the current of Mrs. Crane's ideas. The daughters

were not rough, if the father was, so she decided to take them, and for

the very moderate sum of seven dollars per week, promised to give them all

the privileges of her house. The first day of June was fixed on for them

to leave home and at sunrise Mr. Middleton's carriage stood at the door,

waiting for the young ladies to make their appearance. Julia had long been

ready and was waiting impatiently for Fanny, who was bidding the servants

an affectionate good-bye. Each one had received from her some little token

of love, and now they all stood in one corner of the yard, to look at

their darling as long as possible.